Shaft-control device



C. H. CLARK AND H. L. BEACH.

SHAFT CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION'HLED SEPT. 9, 1920.

1,417,794. Patent ea May 30',1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES M WQ C. H. CLARK AND H. L. BEACH. SHAFT CONTROL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9I 1920.

1,417,794. Pat ted May 30, 1922.

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Q v WITNESSES p o) m MW? r UNITED STATES PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 SYLVANIA.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. CLARK and llownnn L. BEACH, citizens of the United States, and residents of Library and Mount Lebanon, respectively, both of Allegheny County and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Improvement in Shaft-Control Devices, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to railroad rolling stock and particularly to dump cars and consists of a door control mechanism which is well adapted for use on cars of the type described in our U. S. Letters Patent 1,333,- 293 of March 9. 1920, and inthe accompanying drawings we show our invention applied to the door operating mechanism of a car of that type.

One object of our invention is to control the door operating mechanism by means of fluid pressure by utilizing the familiar fluid operated cylinder. The door operating mechanism on one side of the car is locked and unlocked by means of a shaft and the operating mechanism of the doors on the opposite side is locked and unlocked by a similar shaft. To avoid duplication of equipment it is desirable to utilize one control cylinder to actuate either shaft selectively and to provide means for accomplishing this is another object of our invention. An additional object is to automatically lock one shaft against operation when the opposite shaft is unlocked or being operated. We also desire to render the shaft locking device operable from the sides of the car rather than from beneath as is the case in the apparatus described in the above mentioned patent.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of mechanism embodying our invention showing it in position to accomplish the unlatching of the operating mechanism on the right hand side of the car; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the selective mechanism in an unstable or intermediate position reached while in course of shifting from its extreme position shown in Fig. 1 to its opposite extreme position (not shown) wherein it will permit unlatching of the corresponding operating mechanism on the left hand side of the car. The mechanism is mounted on the car underframe and both Specification of Letters Patent.

mrsn or L'w BEACH, OF MOUNT LEBANON,

CLARK GAR 'CGMPANIY; AfiCORPCRATIO'N OFJPENN- SHAFT-CONTROL nnvicn.

Patented -May 30, 1922. 9, 1920. Serial no. 409,277.

views include a cross section ofthe car center sill' channels'l and cover plate 2.

It will'be understood by reference to the above mentioned patent that a tilting body is mounted on the underframe and that the sides of the body are composed of doors which, by means of 'a toggle mechanism, including toggle links 3, are normally held in closed position. The toggle mechanisms are pivotally connected to the underframe sill at 4 by links 5. It is desired that the toggle mechanisms be locked at all times except that the mechanism on the rising side of the body will be unlocked when the body is tilted to dump its load.

The locking mechanism includes latches 6 and 7 fixedly mounted on longitudinal shafts 8 and 9 respectively and adapted by alternate rotation of the latter to engage or disengage pins 10 and 11 respectivelywhich pivotally connect their respective links 3 and 5. As shafts 8 and 9 are journaled in brackets 12, which are affixed to sills 1, the engagement of either latch with its corre sponding pin securely locks the door'n1ech anism connected to the adjacent link 3.

Fixedly mounted on the shafts are levers l3 and 14 by which the shafts are rotated. Levers 13 and 1 1 are positioned on their respective shafts 8 and 9 opposite to each other and extending downwardly. An air operated cylinder 15 is pivotally connected to the lever 14, and its piston (not shown) is provided with a piston rod which is pivotally connected to the lever 13, through the agency of the pin block 16. The cylinder may be termed a floating cylinder since it is not otherwise secured and it will be apparent that admission of air under pressure to the cylinder will tend to move the lower ends of both levers-outwardly, and rotate shafts 8 and 9 and release latches 6 and T from their respective co-operating pins 10 and 11. For the purpose of overcoming this tendency operating one shaft only, we employ locking bars 17 and 18, angle brackets 19 stop pins 20 and 21 and control weight 22. Bars 17 and 18 have slotted connections at their lower ends to levers 13 and 14 respectively and each has a pivotal connection at its upper end to the control weight 22. Bars 17 and 18 are positioned between angle and of selectively brackets 19 and are provided with arcuate slots 25 and 26 each adapted to One of the stop pins for the purpose of limiting longitudinal movement of the bar. It will be apparent that with the co-operatlve relation of the slots and pins shown longitudinal movement of each bar can only take place when there is'simultaneously a transverse movement of same and that a simple thrust in a longitudinal direction has no tendency to effect a transverse movement.

Slidable transversely of the underframe is a pull rod 27 adapted to be reached from either side of the car and having flexible connections 28 and 29 to opposite sides of the control weight 22. It affords means for shifting'the weight from the position shown in Fig. 1, first, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, to a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

peration: Assume the various parts in the position shown in Fig. 1; air under pressure is admitted to cylinder 15 through flexible hose leading from an operating line not shown) to port 30. The operating p1ston is thrust to the right carrying lever 13 with it, the latter being free to move be cause of the slotted connection to bar 17 which is so positioned on pin 20 as to permit the maximum movement ,of lever 13 outwardly.

The lower end of arcuate slot 26 in bar 18 engages pin 21 holding the bar in its retracted position wherein its lower end engages lever 1 1 so as to prevent any outward movement of the latter, thus preventing movement of cylinder 15 to the left and any resulting rotation of shaft 9 and latch 7.

After the operating line, through the cyl' inder, piston, lever and shaft, has released pin 10 andthe toggle mechanism of which it forms a part, from the hold of latch 6, body'tilting mechanism is actuated which raises the right hand side of the body as is described in the above-mentioned patent. Rotating movement of levers 13 and 1 1 away from each other is resisted by an energy storing member or coil spring 31, the tension of which may be regulated by adjustment of hook 32. Then air pressure is released from cylinder 15, the action of spring 31 causes the piston therein to retract and turns the latch 6 to the latching position throu h the agency of the shaft 8 and lever 13. fi hen the car body returns to upright position, .pin 10 will contact with the outer face of latch 6 and raise it temporarily while the pin moves into latching engagement with it.

To reverse the functioning of our control mechanism, rod 27 is pulled to the left and, through flexible connection 28, shifts the position of the weight 522 which moves the locking elements up and to the left through the position shown in Fig. 2 to a position directly opposite that shown in Fig. 1 which reverses the positions of the slots 25 and 26 relative to their respective co-operating pins 20 and 21, thus securing lever 13 against outward movement while permitting outward movement of lever is. Admission of air to cylinder 15 will displace the latter and operate lever 14 in the same manner as it previously operated lever 13.

Vith our device the operator can unlock the operating mechanism on the rising side when standing at that side of the car thus avoiding the possibility of having the load dumped upon him. The effective leverage of the cylinder and piston is greatest while doing the greatest work and is therefore economically arranged. These advantages together with the attainment of the objects set forth above render our device a substantial improvement over those previously used for similar purposes.

lVe claim 1. In a dump car, an underframe, a shaft journaled thereon, a lever fixed on said shaft, a bar having a slotted connection to said lever, means for holding said bar in a retracted position, to prevent rotary movement of said lever and shaft, or in an extended position, to permit rotary movement of said lever and shaft, said means consisting of a pin mounted on the underframe and engaging an arcuate slot in said bar, having its chord disposed longitudinally of said bar.

2. In a shaft locking device for a dump car, a lever fixed on the shaft, a bar having a slotted connection to said lever and provided with a pin and arcuate slot'connecting the bar to the car frame, said pin and slot preventing longitudinal movement of said bar when either extremity of said slot is engaged by said pin, and said bar preventing the movement of said lever when one extremity is engaged by said pin and permit ting said movement when its other extren'iity is so engaged. I

3. In a locking device for an operating shaft on dump car operating mechanism. a lever fixed on the shaft, a bar having a lost motion connection to said lever and provided with an arcuate slot, pin mounted on the car underframe and engaging said arcuate slot, said pin and slot preventing longitudinal movement of said bar in either direction when either end of the slot is engaged by the pin, said bar preventing the movement of said lever when one extremity of said slot is engaged by said pin and permitting movement of said lever when the other extremity is so engaged, and means for manually shifting said bar so as to engage either extremity of said slot with said pin.

4:. In a dump car, in combination with parallel locking shafts journaled on the car frame, mechanism for locking either one of said shafts, when the other is being operated, including individual levers fixed on said shafts, lever bars extending from said levers to the car frame and each adapted to engage the latter so as to hold its respective lever against movement and means connected to said levers so that only one of them may so engage the car frame at one time.

5. Mechanism for selectively locking either one of two parallel shafts mounted upon a car frame, which includes a lever for each shaft, individual bars connected to each of said levers, each bar adapted, when retracted to a predetermined position, to hold its lever against movement, and, when extended to another predetermined position, to permit lever movement, and each provided with a slotted connection to the car frame which is adapted to hold its respective bar in either predetermined position, and an element cooperating with said slotted connections to provide that one of said bars will be in its retracted position when the other of said bars is in its extended position.

6. In an operating mechanism for parallel shafts mounted upon a car frame, individual shaft levers, a fluid pressure operated cylinder secured to one of said levers and provided with a piston secured to the other of said levers, an element for each lever, connected to the car frame and adapted to hold that lever against movement during operation of said cylinder and piston, and a mem ber connected to both of said elements and cooperating with the connection of the latter to the car frame to move one element from its lever holding position and the other ele ment into its lever holding position.

7. In a dumping car lock control mechanism, a latch adapted to lock and unloc: body operating mechanism by opposite pivotal movements, at second latch similarly adapted for another door, respective shafts upon which said latches are mounted, an operating lever on each of said shafts, a fluid pressure operated cylinder secured to one of said levers with a piston secured to the other of said levers, and means for selectively actuating either of said levers and its shaft by means of said cylinder and piston.

8. In a dumping car lock mechanism, a shaft provided with a latch fixed thereon, a parallel shaft provided with a latch fixed thereon, said shafts and latches being adapted to lock and unlock the car lock mechanism, an operating lever on each of said shafts, a fluid pressure operated cylinder secured to one of said levers and provided with a piston secured to the other of said levers, and means for preventing movement of either one of said levers and simultaneously permitting movement of the other of said levers by said cylinder and piston.

9. In a dmnping car look control mechanism, spaced shafts each adapted to lock and unlock respective car operating mecha nism by opposite rotary movements, a fluid pressure operated cylinder and piston supported by and operatively connected, respectively, to said shafts, selective means for holding said cylinder stationary and dis placing said piston to rotate its respective shaft or for holding said piston stationary and displacing said cylinder to rotate its respective shaft.

10. Selective mechanism for locking either one of two parallel shafts mounted upon a car frame, which includes a lever for each shaft,- individual bars connected to said levers, each adapted, when retracted to a predetermined position, to hold its lever against movement and, when extended to another predetermined position, to permit lever movement, and each provided with a slotted connection to the car frame which is adapted to hold its respective bar in either predetermined position against lever operating forces, and a weighted member pivotally connected to both of said bars and adapted to be supported in either of two positions, in one of which one of said bars will be retracted and the other extended, and in the other position of said member, the latter bar will be retracted and the other bar extended.

11. In a control device for parallel latch operating shafts, a lever on each shaft, means tending. to rotate said levers and shafts simultaneously, individual locking bars for said levers each adapted, when in a retracted position, to prevent movement of its respective lever and, when in an extended position, to permit movement of its lever and provided with an arcuate slot, individual fixed pins for each bar each engaging opposite ends of its respective slot when the bar is in retracted and extended position to prevent longitudinal bar movement by lever operating forces, and an energy storing member, connected to both of said bars and adapted, when being energized, to move said slotted bars to positions intermediate their extended and retracted positions and adapted to mov from an unstable, energized position to a stable position and in so moving to move one of said bars to its retracted position and the other of said bars to its extended position.

l2. In combination with the operating mechanism of a dump car, two latch mechanisms, a single operating means for actuating both latch mechanisms, and a manually adjustable selective mechanism for rendering one latch mechanism incapable of operation in response to said operating means when the other is rendered operative.

13. In combination with the operating mechanism of a dump car, two latch mechanisms, a cylinder operatively coupled to one latch mechanism and having a piston oper- IUD ' operating mechanism, a

a ting therein and operatively coupled to the other latch mecl'ianism whereby either mechanism may be operated by relative motion of the piston with relation to its cylinder, and manually controlled selective mechanism for locking one latch mechanism against movement and for releasing the other latch mechanism whereby it is capable of being actuated by the co-operative action of said cylinder and piston.

14. in combination with the duplicate operating mechanisms of a dump car, a sepa rate latch mechai'iism co-operatii'ig with each single operating mechanism operatively coupled to both latch mechanisms for simultaneously applying a latch operating force to each latch mechanisioii, a separate locking device tor each latch mechanism for rendering it inoperative in response to force applied by said operating mechanism, and a selective device for controlling the operation of said locking devices.

15. in combination with duplicate operating mechanisms of a dump car, a separate latch mechanism co-operating With each mechanism, an operating device for simullatch mechanisms to operating force, and a separate locking device for each latch mechanism, and a man" ually operated selective device for rendering one of said locking devices el fective and the other ineffective.

l6. In combination With the duplicate op erating mechanismsoi a dump car, a separate latch mechanism for each operating mechanism, a floating fluid operated cylinder operatively connected to one latch mechanism and having a piston operating therein and operztively coupled to the other latch mechanism, a separate locking crevice for each latch mechanism for resisting motion in response to force applied by said cylinder and'piston, and a manually controlled setaneously subj ecting both lective device for rendering one of the two locking devices effective and the other ineffective.

1?. in combination in a dump car, duplicate operating mechanisms, a separate latch mec ianism cooperating with each operating lllQCl'ltllllSlll, a fluid operated floating cylinder operatively coupled to one of said latch mechanisms and having a piston operatively coupled to the other, aseparate locking device for latch mechanism for resisting motion in response to force applied by said cylinder and piston, a shiftable Weight operatively coupled to'hoth locking devices for rendering one effective and the other ine fctive as a locking device, and means acle of the car body for one or the cessible at, each shifting said Weight to render other oi said devices effective.

ill. in combination with the frame and tilting body cl a dump car, duplicate operatin mechanisms, aseparate latch mecha nisms co -operating fwith each operating mechanism, a fluid operatedfioating cylinder operatively coupled to one of said latch ahanisnis and having a piston operativecoupled to the other, a sepa 'ate locking each latch mechanlsin for resisting motion in response to force applied by said cylinder and piston, comprising a locking bar having a slot and pin connection with said frame, and. a manually controlled ,liSlQLf 'e mechanism operatively coupled to each locking mechanism tor shifting the relative position of the slot and pin of each bar and tor thereby rendering one of the two bars effective and the other ineffective in locking the co-operating latch mechanism. n testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 3rd day of September, 1920.

CHARLES H. CLARK. I HOWARD L. BEACH. 

